No change in team probing Sheena Bora murder: New Mumbai top cop

Ahmed Javed, the new Mumbai police commissioner, dismissed all theories that the team investigating the high-profile Sheena Bora murder case at Khar police station was transferred out

indiaUpdated: Sep 09, 2015 12:53 IST

HT Correspondent

Hindustan Times

Ahmed Javed, the commissioner of Mumbai Police. (ANI Photo)(
)

Mumbai’s new police commissioner Ahmed Javed on Tuesday dismissed reports that all top officials in the team investigating the high-profile Sheena Bora murder were being transferred.

“I have had a word with the joint commissioner of police (law and order) and the team investigating the Sheena Bora murder will continue to probe. They will not be transferred,” Javed said.

"As far as investigation which goes on in connection with evidence, I think any case which is important or having a bearing with will be monitored in the right professional way," he said, adding that all spects including the financial angle would be investigated.

Earlier in the day, the Maharashtra government replaced Mumbai Police commissioner Rakesh Maria, who was personally handling the Sheena Bora murder, with Ahmed Javed, an officer of the rank of director general of police.

The timing of Maria's replacement, when he was leading the investigation into the sensational murder, sparked speculation about the reasons behind the decision. It surprised many in the state administration as Mumbai Police are about to file a charge-sheet in the case in the next few weeks.

Maria, 58, had interrogated former media executive Indrani Mukerjea and those linked to her over the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora in April 2012. Indrani's former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyam Rai – both arrested two weeks ago – and her current husband, former Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea, too were questioned.

Maria’s transfer order was issued hours after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis left on for a tour of Japan on Tuesday morning.

Fadnavis, who signed the file late on Monday night, was reportedly upset with the way the murder was being handled by Maria. He had also expressed his discontent over the undue importance given to the case by Mumbai Police.

State home secretary KP Bakshi, however, said Maria was due for a promotion and the government wanted the new commissioner to have time to settle in to handle the festival season that begins with Ganesh Utsav and goes on till Diwali in November.

"There is no question of any connection between the Sheena Bora murder probe and Rakesh Maria's promotion transfer," Bakshi said. "There is no political reason is behind this, it’s a routine transfer."

Maria was at the centre of a controversy two months ago when his meeting with former IPL chief Lalit Modi in London a few years ago came to light. He was asked to issue an explanation.

The post of Mumbai Police commissioner has been upgraded to the rank of director general of police as Ahmed is an officer of that rank.